Improvement in knitting-machines



Z'Sheets-SheetZ. c.l HY. PLATT'a G. A. S'VTANBERY.

- Knitting-Machins. l No.l5,7l6.4

Patented June 9,1874. ,Wa/lf. 24k

JI F A 4 ii.: :R10 g I/ PnTnnfr OFFICE.,

CORWIN H; PLATT AND GEORGE A.A STANBERY, OF NORVALK, OHIO.

I`MPROVEMENT IN KNKITTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,716., dated June 9, 1874; application iled April 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GoRwIN H. PLATT and- GEORGE A. STANBERY, of Norwalk,^in the coun-ty of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inKnitting-llachines; and we do herebydeclarey that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof', which will enable others-Skilled in the` art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

Our .invention relates to .improvements in knitting-machines, more particularly to an attachment' forl knittingfancy-work automatically, said attachment being adapted for use in-connection with our improved knitting-machine heretofore patented. The invention consists-in the attachment of a pinwheel of peculiar! construction, `operated by means of an eccentrically-operating pin or rod on the end of.the driving-shaft,` the pin on the shaft engaging with a ratchet-wheel secured to the aforesaid pin-wheel, so as to cause the latter to. revolve a certain distance. with each revolut/ ion of the driving-shaft, whereby, through 'the pins on thewheel, andthe operation of .connect1ngmechanism, the yarn-carrier and needle-rings are reversed at each revolution of the. driving-shaft, so as to knit on two needlesonly, .the pins on the pin-wheel being removable, sothat they may be arranged in diferentcombinations, with relation to each otherand to the blank spaces betweenthem, and4 operate to `reverse the yarn-carrier and needle-rings, so as to knit ontwo needles a givemnumber of stitches, then gain one or morestitches, and againl knit a given number on two needles, whereby a great number and variety of .fancy patterns may be knitted. Further, itconsists in a combination of devices whereby the pin-wheel attachment is automaticallythrown out of gear, when the end Vof the web isreached with the fancy knitting, and the. needle-rings and yarn-carrier reversed, 'so as to permit the machine to knit backplain .across the web, and then be again thrown ,into gear to work the fancy stitch. It also `consists in-,a device, to be used in connectioniwith our pin-wheel attachment, which throws the loop below the end of the needle; and, also, in a device for picking up and replacing the loop on the notch of the needle when it slips down from the notch into the hook of the needle, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of our improved knitting-machine having our fancy-knitting attachment. Fig. 2 is an elevation ofthe same. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1 1, Fig. 1, with the pin-wheel attachment removed. Fig. 4L is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view, showing the face of the pin-wheel and its connection. Fig. G shows the back or other side of the pin-wheel. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the pin-wheel.

Before describing the peculiar construction and operation of our fancy-knitting attaclr ment, we will first briedy describe the general construction and operation of our improved knitting-machine, in order to* enable those skilled in the art to more fully understand our present invention, reference being' had to Letters `Patent No. 137,568, of date April S, 1873, for a more full and particular description of said knitting-machine.

The stationary parts consist of frame A and circular base-plate or disk B, securely united together. rEhe driving-shaft C is journaled in frame A, and operated by a band-wheel, c, or handle c1. The needle-rings D are seated on the disk B, and are made to rotate in either direction by a toothed feather, O', seated in a slot on the shaft, and operated as hereinafter more fully set forth. vThe needles c are operated, one at a time, by means of a needle-carrier, E, which reeiprocates back and forth in a groove cut in thebase-plate, movement being imparted to the needlecarrier by means of a cani-groove on the wheel F and a frictionroller, f. These reciprocating needles operate in connection with the stationary comb-teeth" or strippers c, and the operation of knitting is accomplished by the needle-carrier tirst drawing back the needle, and then pushing it forward again.

previously formed on it is taken up by the comb-tooth or stripper, the point of the latter projecting into a longitudinal groove formed on the upper side of the needle for that pur- As the needle retreats the loop point of the tooth, or in position to be transferred to it when again operated.

Having thus given a general idea of our improved knitting-machine, we will now `proceed to describe our present invention, to wit, the fancy-knitting attachment and the different devices operating in connection therewith.

Referring to the parts by letters, G represents a pin-wheel, having an elongated journal or sleeve, g, loosely mounted on a spindle, g1, which projects from a supporting plate or frame, J, secured to the frame A, the spindle being placed above and in aline with the driving-shaft c. On the end of this spindle g1 is a fixed disk or ring, g2. g3 is a spiral spring surrounding the sleeve or journal g, one end resting against the disk g2 and the other against the face of the pin-wheel G. This spring holds the pin-wheel in proper working position when in gear, permits it to be moved sidewise or pressed outward on the spindle, to be thrown out of gear, and brings it back into gear again when the pressure is removed. The outer edge of the wheel G is pierced with a number of holes, h. In the wheel shown in the drawings these holes are fifteen in number, but we do not limit ourselves to any particular number of holes or to a wheel of any specific diameter. H represents removable pins inserted in some of the holes h, their ends projecting outwardly therefrom. As shown in the drawings, they are seven in number, and inserted in the holes l, 3, 5, 7, 9, 1l, and 13, respectively, this particular arrangement being made to secure a particular pattern of fancy knitting; but, as will be hereinafter 0more fully explained, the number of pins and f their relative arrangement may be varied at pleasure, or according as different patterns of fancy knitting are required to be worked. On the opposite side of thepin-wheel is a ratchet-wheel, I, having teeth corresponding in number to the number of pinholes, one tooth, z', being partially'cut away. This ratchet-wheel forms part of, or is rigidly secured to, the pin-wheel G, and revolves with it. c2 is a pin or rod secured eccentrically to the ends of the driving-shaft G, and project! ing therefrom, so as to come in contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel I as the shaft revolves, and thereby cause the pin-wheel to revolve a stated distance with every revolution of the shaft so long as the pin c2 gears with the ratchet-wheel. J is the supporting frame-plate of the attachment, secured to the frame A, and projecting' at right angles therefrom. J is a two-armed lever, pivoted, at j, to the plate J. Its inner arm connects with one end of a rod, jl, the other end of which carries a pendent rod, f2. The other arm of the lever J fits into a slot formed in a camplate, k, which is secured to the outer end of a single-armed cam-lever, K. This cam-lever K is also pivoted to the frame-plate J, the pivot-bolt passing through an elongated bolthole, 764. It is also provided with a notch, k1, between the cam-plate k and a projection, 7a2, to receive the edge of the pin-wheel, which revolves through the notch. 7c3 is a spiral spring, one end of which is secured to the frame-plate J, and the other to the free end of the lever J The pin-wheel and the devices just described are all attached to the frame-pl ate J, an d constitute our fancy-knittin g attachment proper. It is attached to the knitting-machine by a screw, y, so that it can be removed at pleasure. L is the yarncarrier, secured on the outer end of a lever, L', which is pivoted to an arm, M, secured to the frame A. The 1nner end of the lever L carries a pendent rod, Z. N is a sleeve on the shaft C, on the inner end of which is a camgroove, which permits a tooth or projection on'` the feather C' to turn freely therein while the machine is operating in one direction. It has 'a projecting loop or eye, a, through which the pendent rod j2 of the rodj1 is passed. The motion imparted to the lever J by the pins on the wheel G causes the sleeve N to slide back and forth on the shaft C, and carry the feather with it, reversing the direction of the needlerings, as hereinafter more fully set forth: O is another sleeve, which slides back and forth on the shaft C. It has a projecting slotted arm, o, through which the pendent rod l oi the yarn-carrier passes, so that when the sleeve O slides on the shaft through the operation of the sleeve N and feather C', it causes the yarncarrier to reverse.

It will thus be seen that when the pin-wheel is in gear with the shaft C, the cam-lever J and sleeves N and O will reverse the yarncarrier and the direction of the needle-rings at each revolution of the shaft C, and cause the machine to knit on two needles only. It will also be obvious that if the cam-lever J f is not operated by the pins on the pin-wheel the needle-rings will continue to operate in one direction, and each needle will be operated in succession. Therefore, by leaving the holesy numbered ll and 15 without pins, the canb. lever rests a space at that point, and permlts.

the needle-rings to move the 4distance of one needle without reversing, and in this way we remove the operation of knitting from therst and second to the second and third needles, and gain a needle at each revolution of the pin-wheel.

l? is a vertical shaft, journaled in the baseplate B, having an arm, p, which overhangs the pin-holes of the needle, so that when the reversing-pins e2 are inserted they will come incontact with it. p is a horizontal arm or reversing-lever, also secured to the upright or vertical shaft l?. Its inner end engages with the sleeve N, and has a vertical pm passed.A

through a slot in said sleeve to keep it in position. A portion of the upper side of this arm p is also cut away like a knife-edge bearing. Q is an arm secured to the frame A, and projecting therefrom, its outer end being formed' into a vertical Sleeve, which holds a spring-shaft,q. When the reversin g-pin e2 comes in contact with the arm p it causes the shaft P to turn, and the arm p', moving with it, slides the sleeve N on the shaft C, and thereby, through the feather and sleeve O, reverses the yarn-carrier and the direction of the needle-rings without the aid of the pin-wheel and its connections. R is a rod, one end of which is attached to the reversing-lever'p, and the other passed through a pendant or loop, nsccured to the under side of the frame J toward the wheel G. NVhen the shaft l? is turned by contact with the reversing-pin this rod R will be pushed out, and its end coming in contact with the pin-wheel G, the latter will be forced outward on the spindle g. It will be obvious that if this movement occurs when the cut-away tooth of the ratchet' is next to the -eccentrc pin c1 on the shaft, the pin-wheel G will be thrown out of gear and the machine knit straight back, eachneedle once in its turn, until the shaft P is again turned by the other reversing-pin, e2, and the pin-wheel again brought into gear by the action of the spiral spring g3. S is an arm or frame-plate secured to the frame A, at s, one end of which projects therefrom at right angles, and overhangs the needle-ring. S1 is a pendent lever, pivoted to the outer end of this arm S, its lower or free end being bent outwardly, as shown in the drawings, and provided with a spring-bar, S2,

bent upward, and projecting inwardly toward lthe needle-rin gs, and immediately beneath the needles. A reciprocating motion is imparted to this lever S1` and spring-bar S2 by means of a connecting-rod, S3, the inner end of which is provided with a friction-pulley, s, which engages with a cam-disk, f', on the wheel F, and a spiral spring, S4, 011e end o f which is attached to the connecting-rod S3, and the other to the frame S, as clearly shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings. l

This device operates in connection with the needles to replace the loop back on the notch whenever it slips down from the notch into the hook, which the loops are more apt to do when the knitting is performed on two needles through the operation of our new fancy-work attachment. T is a lever, pivoted to a plate, t, secured tothe base-plate B. The outer end of this lever T projects downward, its extremity being formed into a bifurcated foot, t2. An up-anddown motion is imparted to this foot by means of a pin projecting from the side of the camwheel F, which comes in contact with the inner end of the lever, lifting it up and depress ing the foot end. A spiral spring, t2, one end of which is secured to the lever and the other to the arm M, raises the foot again, and keeps it up until again depressed by the pin on the wheel F.

The object of this device is to throw the loop below the end or point of the needle as the needle removes it from the comb-tooth or stripper. This device we call the sinker.

U represents the stitch-retainer, secured to the lower end of a rocking arm, V, which is pivoted to the arm M. It is arranged to operate between the bifurcated ends of the sinker lor foot t1, and an oscillating or vibrating motion is imparted to it by means of an arm, t,

having a friction -pulley tn its end, which is brought in contact with a cam on the rim of the wheel F, and a spiral spring, t', one end of which is attached to the rocking arm V, and the other to the arm M.

The object of thisdevice is to hold the 'loop on the comb-tooth while the needle, in its backward course, draws tne yarn through it.

WV are levers, one on each side of the machine, the rear ends of which are bifnrcatcd or slotted, and pivotedto brackets A2, which form part of the frame A, by a pin which passes transversely through the brackets and the slot of the lever.`V` w is an angle-plate secured to the frame A2 by a screw passed through a long slot formed in the horizon tal arm thereof. w1 is a rubber block secured on the inner sides of the vertical arm of the angle-plate, with which the rear end of the lever W comes in contact. The upper forward ends of these levers WV are arc-shaped, and on their` under side are provided with a cog or tooth,

102. They are also provided with pins or rods w3, which project beyond their forward ends, so as to come in contact with the notched plates Y, secured to the frame A. 104 are spiral springs, secured at one end to the lever W, and to the angle-plate at the other.

The object of this device is to communicate motion from the driving-shaft to the needlerings, the teeth or cogs on the feather being so arranged and operated as to depress the levers l/V at the proper moment and bring the tooth 102 into gear with the teeth or cogs of the needle-rin gs. The spiral springs @U4 raise them out of gear as soon as relieved from the pressure of the cogs onpthe feather. The dotted line Z, Fig. 3, showsthe course of the yarn through the yarn-carrier. The devices for supporting the bobbin are secured to the frame A, and the bobbin is secured thereto by devices which regulate the tension; but these devices are not shown in the drawings, and are not claimed in the present application, which is confined to our fancy-knitting attachrnent and the herein-described devices operating in connection therewith.

Having thus described the mechanical construction and operation of the devices for producing our new fancy-knitted fabric, we will nowproceed to describe the operationwhereby said fabric is knitted on the machine with the special arrangement .of the-pins on the pinwheel shown in the drawings.Vv

We rst set up plain loops on fourteen of the needles, and arrange the reversing-pins so as to reverse when either end of the web is reached. XVe then commence to knit at the ri ght-h and side or end ofthese fourteen needles, the pin-wheel and its connecting mechanism being arranged as herein shown and described. The machine is then set in motion, and the first two needles knit fourteen times, the yarn-carrier and needle-rings reversing at each revolution of the driv-ingshaft, until the pin-wheel revolves to hole No. 14, when, there being no pin in hole 15, the needlerings will rotate the distance of one needle without reversing, therebyT gaining a needle. The work will then be continued on the second and third instead of on the rst and second needles, the second and third being knitted fourteen times, as were the first and second, and so on across the whole web. Vhen the last of the series are knitted, the reversing-pin comes in contact with the arm p, and, as before described, turns the shaft P and the reversing-lever p at the same time, moving the rod R outward,'and pushing the pin-wheel outward 011 the spindle gl, so as to throw it out of gear at the point where the tooth of the ratchet-wheel is partially cut away. The eccentric pin a2 on the drivingshaft will then revolve without coming in contact with the ratchet, and the pin-wheel remains at rest. The machine being thus reversed and the pin-wheel thrown out of gear, it will now knit straight back across the web without reversing until it reaches the righthand end of the web or place of beginning, and in this way the lrows of loops of the fabric previously formed are bound together. The other reversing-pin is then in contact with the arm p, and again operates the reversing-lever, drawing back the push-bar R, and allowing the pin-wheel to come again into gear at the proper starting-point through the action of the spiral spring g3. The operation then proceeds as before, and in this way the fancy-knitted fabric is produced automatically, and by the continuous motion of the driving-shaft turning in one direction.

The pattern of the fabric may be varied by altering the position of the pins on the wheel, and in arranging them in different combinations with relation to the spaces left between the pins, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. lt will also be obvious that the width of the fabric may be varied and widened orl ceiving motion from the driving-shaft, and reversing the needle-ring and yarn carrier at each revolution of the shaft by means of a cam-lever, k, lever J rod jl, and sleeve N, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The pin-wheel G, having the ratchet I and cut tooth i', and operating in connection with a spring, g3, push-rod R, and reversinglever p', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the pin-wheel G, camlever K, lever J', rod jl, and sleeves N and O with the shaft C and feather C, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of the pin-wheel G, levers K and J', rod jl, sleeve N, shaft- U, and feather C with the levers W, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In connection with the pin-wheel G and its operating mechanisms, the sinker tl, operated by means of the wheel F, lever T, and spring t2, to throw the loop below the point of the needle, substantially as herein set forth.

6. In connection with the pin-wheel G and its operatingmechanisms, the pick-up orloopreplacer Si, operated bymeans of the lever Sl, rod S3, friction-wheel Sl, cam f, and spring S4, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination of the sinker tl, operated as described, with the stitch-retainer U, receiving motion from the cam-wheel F by means of the lever c and spring c', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

S. The levers W, constructed vsubstantially as described, and arranged to operate, with the toothed feather C', shaft C, and needlering D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

` CORVVIN H. PLATT.

N. M. PLATT, Gno. Q. ADAMs. 

